Gulan Avaşin, one of the commanders of the Bazên Zagrosê Revolutionary Campaign, in which guerrillas put up outstanding resistance against the invasion attempts of the Turkish army and the betrayal of the KDP, evaluated the guerrillas’ resistance and their actions in the ongoing war in guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

“First of all, as PKK and PAJK fighters, we send our love and regards to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan from the battle positions of the Zap area. We also commemorate all our martyrs, including the martyrs of the Bazên Zagrosê Revolutionary Campaign. The war that took place from Zendura to Zap in 2021 was not an ordinary one. All our comrades resisted heroically and inspired us with their self-sacrificing spirit. Currently, resistance is mounted against the occupying fascist state in Zap based on the legacy of those comrades. Needless to say, this resistance will not remain as a mere resistance, we will fight, struggle and we have no option but to succeed. Currently, a very serious war is going on from Zap to Çiyareş, Kurojahro, Şikefta Birîndara and Werxele. Our comrades are fighting and resisting the Turkish invaders in each battle position. And all our friends have a common goal and accept nothing but success.

For the PKK and PAJK fighters, the most important thing is our leader Öcalan’s physical freedom. This is what determines our approach to war. We also know that this war will bring about many things. The Turkish officials keep saying that 'we will wipe out them at those positions'. We respond that this is a battlefield, a struggle is being carried out. They are the ones who want to invade, those who want to destroy, and we will do everything to defeat the Turkish army and for freedom. Our most urgent agenda is the freedom of our leader. We know that the course of this operation and the stance manifested by the guerrilla forces will force the enemy to negotiate with Öcalan, and with this in mind we are taking things very seriously.”

'A FEMALE GUERILLA TEAM CAUSED A HUGE TROUBLE TO TURKISH TROOPS IN KUROJAHRO'

Avaşin said that even a team of female guerrillas has carried out several successful actions against the Turkish troops in Kurojahro for days and they caused huge trouble for them. “We are receiving news from those comrades who are resisting in the battle positions at the moment. In some places, the Turkish army was not even able to remove their casualties for days. The dead bodies of dozens of Turkish soldiers have been on the ground for days in the Kevirê Kun area of ​​Şikefta Birindara. These bodies are decaying before the eyes of those Turkish soldiers and village guards. This shows the current situation of the Turkish army there. It also reveals the stance of the Kurdish guerrillas. Our professional guerrillas on the ground and our friends resisting in the battle tunnels are confronting the Turkish troops without a second thought. There is only one goal, which is to defeat these invaders in the Zap area no matter what. Our friends fighting in the tunnels and on the ground do not even allow the enemy troops to raise their heads. No matter how much the Turkish army brags about its advanced weaponry, as our leader once said, the greatest weaponry is man himself. The guerrilla forces already know how to overcome the state-of-the-art technology of the Turkish army with their practice, actions and stance. Most recently, the Turkish soldiers have sought to take up positions in the Kurojahro area behind us. When the Turkish army failed to airdrop its troops on the ground with Sikorsky helicopters, it started to advance from Sheladize to Kurojahro and is fighting against the children of the Kurds under the guidance of those who call themselves Kurdish yet have nothing to do with Kurdishness. Over there, our friends fought without interruption. For example, a team of female fighters caused huge trouble to the Turkish troops in Kurojahro. The enemy troops are no longer able to advance even one meter long in the Şehid Şemdin area. Our friends struck them with BKC machine guns and assassination weapons, they also detonated mines and carried out assaults against Turkish troops. These actions, which were carried out by only one of our teams, prevented the advance of the enemy forces,” the commander stated.

‘A GREAT DISHONOUR’

“The Turkish army cannot comfortably fight the guerrillas on these lands without the leadership of those betrayers who sell themselves. No matter what it takes, we, as the PKK and PAJK fighters, are ready for this war. We will sacrifice ourselves at any moment if necessary. We have no individual interests to take care of. Whatever it may cost, we will not give the Turkish army a chance to catch its breath.

Our appeal to those village guards who are leading the way for the Turkish army in Bakur (Turkey’s Kurdistan) for a small amount of money is this: This is a great shame and dishonour. Particularly for the village guards who are guiding the Turkish soldiers in Gever (Yüksekova) and Çelê (Çukurca). For example, they keep deploying dogs, village guards or Kurdish soldiers to many areas where the guerrilla forces are on their guard and the Turkish soldiers cannot enter. Isn't this a huge disgrace? As revolutionaries, we are ashamed of this situation. Can a Kurd demean himself like that?

OUR PEOPLE SHOULD EMBRACE THE GUERILLAS

No matter what action the Turkish army takes, it has already been defeated by the guerrilla forces. The Turkish army has been defeated spiritually and psychologically. Our people should know that our achievements are directly related to this war. We are ready to do our best to win, but our people should also be aware of the importance of this fight. Existing deficiencies may cause our hard-won gains, achieved as a result of great struggles and prices, to come to nothing. This is what the Turkish state wants to do, so our people should embrace the guerrilla forces. We have a noble cause. We will do our best not to lose these values.

The current war is continuing with all its intensity and will escalate further in the future. Since they've been here, they'll see what it's like here. Just as they were always defeated in the Zap region in the past, they will experience a major defeat again.”